February 16/11 16:11 pm - Cycling (in the) News

“The Europeans look down on raising your hands. They don't like the end-zone dance. I think that's unfortunate. That feeling -the finish line, the last couple of meters -is what motivates me." -- Lance Armstrong

Bike paths reduce injuries, Montreal study findsThe risk of injury for cyclists riding on Montreal bike paths is about 28 per cent lower than for cyclists riding on comparable Montreal roads unprotected from traffic, according to a new study published in an international peer-reviewed journal for health professionals.

That riding on separated bike paths is safer than riding in traffic may seem obvious, but there is growing debate in the U.S. and in some Canadian cities about whether bike paths provide a false sense of security and therefore increase risk, especially at intersections where cyclists are unprotected.Read more: Montreal Gazette

Cycling leaders threaten to sue Floyd LandisFloyd Landis has been threatened with legal action if he does not withdraw allegations leveled at cycling leaders Hein Verbruggen and Pat McQuaid in a televised interview.

Verbruggen, who was president of the International Cycling Union for 14 years until being succeeded by McQuaid in 2005, said on Wednesday that the claims were "unacceptable."Read more:AP

Spanish rider Alberto Contador cleared of doping chargeThe Spanish Cycling Federation's ruling came three weeks after it recommended Contador serve a one-year ban rather than the standard two-year penalty.

The sport's governing body, the UCI, and the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) have the right to challenge the decision.

"First of all, I'm relieved and obviously very happy about this ruling," said Contador. Read more: BBC

Cyclist Contador wins another battle, but war far from overCleared of using a banned substance by the Spanish cycling authorities, Alberto Contador will be a relieved man after months of anguish following a positive test for clenbuterol.

However the three-time Tour de France champion is well aware the International Cycling Union (UCI) is likely to appeal Tuesday's decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).Read more: Yahoo

UCI president Pat McQuaid tells Spanish prime minister he should not have intervened in Alberto Contador caseThe three-times Tour de France winner is a national hero in Spain and had his one-year suspension for testing positive for clenbuterol quashed by the Spanish National Cycling Federation on appeal on Tuesday, a decision that came after Zapatero led the calls for Contador’s provisional ban to be overturned.

“It’s up to sport to police itself,” said an angry McQuaid at the Tour of Oman. “I don’t think it should be interfered with by politicians who don’t know the full facts of the cases and then make statements that are purely political statements. I wasn’t surprised when you see it’s Spain. Nothing surprises me that comes from Spain. But it’s disappointing.” Read more: The Telegraph

German lab shows inadvertent dopingA study by a German doping laboratory has found that humans can inadvertently ingest clenbuterol from eating meat, a finding that would support claims by Alberto Contador and other athletes that contaminated beef caused their positive drug tests.

The German Sports University lab in Cologne -- accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency -- is warning athletes of the risks of accidental clenbuterol doping when traveling to China.

The lab carried out an investigation that found that 22 out of 28 travelers returning to Germany from China tested positive for low levels of clenbuterol. The samples were tested between Sept. 15 and Jan. 15.Read more: ESPN

Angry drivers make a cyclist's life hellMelbourne can be a dangerous place to ride a bicycle. My son face-planted onto concrete at the weekend while riding his bike in our backyard. Skin off, split lip, bruised nose and many tears. Blood everywhere.

Two hours later someone nearly killed me as I was cycling along Beach Road. A male P-plate driver swerved deliberately while bulleting past, trying to put me into the gutter, or worse. Apparently I was taking up too much of this driver's lane. He missed me by inches.Read more: SMU

Drivers, pedestrians only remember lunatic cyclistsCyclists are not entirely sane.

If you’re only a driver, not a cyclist of any description, try to imagine willingly getting up in the morning, sitting atop a narrow metal frame that balances on two wheels, and rolling out into traffic.

Drivers are protected by a shell of metal and safety glass, augmented by crumple zones, air bags, seat belts, traction control, and anti-lock power brakes.

Cyclists have hand brakes, helmets made of foam and plastic, and gloves designed to keep the skin on our hands in the event of a crash.Read more: Vancouver Courier

Plenty of crackle over race radio issueThe stand-off between the Union Cycliste International and riders over race radios takes a new turn this week with reports UCI president Pat McQuaid and his predecessor, Hein Verbruggen, will visit the Tour of Oman to address the issue.

McQuaid and Verbruggen, who stood down from the UCI leadership but has long been regarded as a major powerbroker in the sport, are expected to spend only 24 hours in Muscat, Oman, to reinforce the UCI's position on banning race radios.Read more: Crookwell Gazette

Tweed - it's what separates gentlemen bicyclists from the restHelsinki hosts its own Winter Tweed Run in a very nippy -20°C.A tweed suit, a damp autumn day in England, and a hunting trip. No, wait a minute, that's not it. It is actually a tweed outfit, an absolutely bone-chillingly cold day in Helsinki, and a bicycle ride.Read more: Helsingin Sanomat

Peter Gostelow Africa cycle updatesPeter Gostelow, who lives in Dorset (UK) when he is not on his bicycle, was born in 1979 and became an English teacher and long distance cycler. During 2005 to 2008 he cycled from Japan to the UK, a distance of 50,000 km. Currently he is cycling from London, through Africa, to Cape Town; a 20,000+ km distance which will take two year to finish. He started on 16 August 2009.